Mama Heating Pad in the Brooder (Picture Heavy) - UPDATE

[ShanandGem]

what kinds of chicks are these?

They are Lavender Cuckoo Orpingtons. Very spoiled, very well fed.

 

[MesMama]

Went out the the coop and sat in the brooder for awhile today again They're so different when you sit with them versus grabbing them out of the brooder to hold them, which duh! Makes sense because you aren't as threatening Anyway while I was out there I noticed a bunch of them sneezing?? Is that normal?

 

[MesMama]

Wow! Beautiful!!

 

[ShanandGem]

Wow! Beautiful!!

Thank you! They are just leaving their ever so awkward teenaged phase.

 

[FlyWheel]

Hi there. I've read through quite a few of these posts, but not all 513 pages! Wow! I just tried the MHP method for the first time. I really like it but did have one chick death and I want to mention it so others don't have this same problem. I had the heating pad on top of the frame. Then I had 2 towels wrapped in press n seal cause 1 wasn't big enough to cover it all up. The 2 towels overlapped by about 4". This morning I went out to check on the chicks and one had crawled in between the 2 towels and suffocated. I feel awful cause I could have avoided it. I've now taken away all towels and don't care if the heating pad itself gets pooped on. At least they can't get trapped between anything. I'm wondering if this has happened to anyone else. Other than this sad event, I still think the method is a good one and better than a heat lamp.

I just covered my pad with a double layer of paper towels to help keep it clean, then piled a layer of bedding on top of that (which of course they promptly scratch off

).

I figured the fluffy microfiber of the pad was soft enough, and while I do have to change out the paper towel once a day, I usually go out to check on them at least three times a day anyways. So it's no big deal.

 

[ShanandGem]

I wrapped my whole setup loosely in a dollar store baby blanket, and then covered the top with a towel.. I didn't secure it in any way so if someone does climb in they can get out. Usually when I go out first thing in the morning I have to unwrap to find one renegade who chose to climb inside.

 

[Blooie]

Went out the the coop and sat in the brooder for awhile today again

They're so different when you sit with them versus grabbing them out of the brooder to hold them, which duh! Makes sense because you aren't as threatening

Anyway while I was out there I noticed a bunch of them sneezing?? Is that normal?

Um, not usually. That generally means respiratory irritation of some sort, either from DE (if you are using that), ammonia (which isn't likely given their ages and how short a time they've been out there) or a virus of some kind. I can reassure you that it's not related to them being under the pad, so we can rule that out first thing. Chicks raised under a broody or a heat lamp can do the same thing. So I think if no one chimes in here with assistance (on accounta I honestly just plain don't know) you might post over in the Illnesses forum and describe exactly what they're doing. Or you can just watch them for a day or so more and see if it self-resolves, which it certainly can do.

 

[MesMama]

Um, not usually.  That generally means respiratory irritation of some sort, either from DE (if you are using that), ammonia (which isn't likely given their ages and how short a time they've been out there) or a virus of some kind.  I can reassure you that it's not related to them being under the pad, so we can rule that out first thing.  Chicks raised under a broody or a heat lamp can do the same thing.  So I think if no one chimes in here with assistance (on accounta I honestly just plain don't know) you might post over in the Illnesses forum and describe exactly what they're doing.  Or you can just watch them for a day or so more and see if it self-resolves, which it certainly can do.  

Thank you Blooie The weather has been so crazy up and down, warm for a couple days now it's barely above freezing :/ I wondered if maybe it wasn't something related to the temps causing something respiratory? Maybe they aren't like us though?

 

[MesMama]

Also I added more bedding-pine shavings and straw, the floor is concrete so I just want to make sure there's enough bedding. Under the MHP I have a big towel folded three times with a layer of pine shavings under that, then more shavings on top of the towel and some straw as well.

I always watching them for a bit when I'm down there and they aren't usually under MHP, maybe a couple of them are. Most of them are busy doing chick stuff. They don't seem cold? Ugh. Praying my chicks are okay

 

[dyorto]

Also I added more bedding-pine shavings and straw, the floor is concrete so I just want to make sure there's enough bedding. Under the MHP I have a big towel folded three times with a layer of pine shavings under that, then more shavings on top of the towel and some straw as well.

I always watching them for a bit when I'm down there and they aren't usually under MHP, maybe a couple of them are. Most of them are busy doing chick stuff. They don't seem cold? Ugh. Praying my chicks are okay

When I had my chicks out for the first time today, I did notice them sort of sneezing too. I attributed it to being their first time exposed to the elements.